漢女

Old Japanese

Kanji in this term
漢	女
あや Grade: 3	め Grade: 1
irregular	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
漢女 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 漢 (Aya, one of the purported ancient clans who originated from China) +‎ 女 (me₁, “woman”).

Noun

漢女 (ayame) (kana あやめ)

1. women who came to ancient Japan skilled in the art of weaving textiles such as 綾錦 (ayanishiki)
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 7, poem 1273:
     , text here

     住吉波豆麻公之馬乘衣雜豆臈漢女乎座而縫衣叙

     Sumi₁no₂ye no₂ Paduma no₂ ki₁mi₁ ga uma no₂ri ko₂ro₂mo sapi₁durapu ayame₁ wo suwete nupe₁ru ko₂ro₂mo zo₂

     The horse-riding robes of Lord Hazuma of Suminoe is a garment sewn by the foreign girl, who chirps like a bird [i.e. speaking Chinese], that he made sit and sew.

Descendants

• Japanese: 菖蒲 (ayame, “iris”)

See also

• 囀らふ (sapi₁durapu, pillow word alluding to ayame₁)